I can't see how one can take stock of the work Ryan Pace has done to address the Bears’ pass rush deficiencies thus far and not come to the conclusion that the OLB group is shaping up to be as much a liability in 2018 as the WR corps was in 2017. For all the potential on offense, I'm not going to take much comfort from losing games 31-24. Are there still pathways for the Bears to markedly improve their pass rush before the next offseason cycle? — David D., Rogers Park

Concern over the depth chart at outside linebacker and the pass rush was overwhelmingly the most popular topic this week, and that is understandable. It’s a fair question, but I think there has been some overreaction, and some faith in defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is probably needed.

First, let’s take inventory of the pass rush from last season, how it did and what’s missing from that group. The Bears had 42 sacks in 2017, their most since they had 48 all the way back in 2001, and that ranked tied for seventh in the NFL. With two more sacks the Bears would have been fifth, and they were only six behind the vaunted Rams defense. So not that far off from some of the best defenses in the league.

Gone from that group are five players who combined for 14½ sacks — Lamarr Houston (4), Pernell McPhee (4), Mitch Unrein (2½), Willie Young (2) and Christian Jones (2). Jones is the only player who logged major playing time last season (58.9 percent of the snaps), and that was because of injuries to Jerrell Freeman and Danny Trevathan. Unrein was on the field for 36.8 percent of the snaps. McPhee had 36.4 percent, and Houston (21.4 percent) and Young (11.3 percent) played small roles. So we’re not talking about replacing a ton of playing time either.

What jumps out is the Bears wound up with three of the top 51 picks in the draft and they didn’t address what was, going into the draft, their greatest need. That being said, I don’t believe they had enough picks to satisfy every need, at least not that high. I say that because there would have been questions had they not added pieces to the interior of the offensive line, wide receiver and inside linebacker. They were going to be light at one of those spots and it wound up being outside linebacker, which makes sense from the standpoint that it was a particularly weak position in the draft. The player that sort of stands out is Boston College’s Harold Landry, who slipped — reportedly because of some medical concerns and a poor final season — to No. 41 overall when the Titans scooped him up. If Landry is a major producer in Tennessee, the Bears will have missed on that one. They drafted Iowa offensive lineman James Daniels at No. 39.

The Bears do a nice job of getting some pass rush push from their interior players in the sub package. Akiem Hicks led the team with 8½ sacks, and while Eddie Goldman had only 1½ sacks, he had 16 combined quarterback hurries and knockdowns and helps collapse the pocket. They have effectively replaced McPhee with Aaron Lynch, who has familiarity with the Fangio and the scheme. It’s also important to note that Sam Acho is coming off what was easily his best season since his rookie year in 2011. Acho played with more confidence last season and the Bears’ belief in him was reflected in the contract he signed after he played on minimum deals for three consecutive years. I imagine Acho will have the first shot at nailing down a starting job in the base defense and Lynch will have an opportunity to work into the rotation.

If one of Isaiah Irving, Howard Jones or sixth-round draft pick Kylie Fitts can emerge, Fangio will have another piece to plug into the pass rush. In an ideal world would the Bears have more and exciting options to pair with Leonard Floyd? No question. But the position was lacking in free agency and the talent pool was shallow in the draft, and it’s not like they’re trying to replace one player who had 14½ sacks last year or two players who had seven sacks apiece in 2017. They need to account for five role players who made modest contributions to the pass rush. If you believe in Fangio and what he can do schematically, there is reason to believe this isn’t analogous to the wide receiver situation in 2017 or the cornerback situation in 2016. Will there be a focus on the position group and needs throughout the year? Most likely. Will the Bears be monitoring potential options that become available? I’d be very surprised if they were not. Will this position group hold the team back from success in 2018? I think that’s a bit of an extreme take.

Nick Kwiatowski for Shane Ray? Two players that could use a different scheme. Any chance? — @MikeyLillo

I would disagree that Kwiatkoski needs a scheme change. He has fit relatively well in what the Bears have been doing. What I’m sure he would like is a clearer path to competing for a starting role entering his third season. He appears blocked now with the addition of first-round pick Roquan Smith and veteran Danny Trevathan. It’s not like Kwiatkoski no longer fits what the Bears are doing defensively. Ray has been mentioned as a guy who might no longer fit in Denver, especially after North Carolina State defensive end Bradley Chubb fell into the Broncos’ lap at No. 5 in the first round. Ray had eight sacks in 2016, his second season, and fell off last season when he was limited to eight games. It’s possible the Broncos look to move him, but I’m not sure they would view Kwiatkoski as the fit they want. If Ray remains with the Broncos, the Bears will be able to get a close look at him in the joint practices the team will hold in Denver this summer before the exhibition meeting between the teams. You’re thinking along the right lines in looking at players who might no longer fit with their current clubs.

The Bears have added tons of bodies and talent at the WR position. When Week 1 rolls around which 5 (6?) WR would you expect to make the roster? — @KAO__1989

That’s a difficult question to answer before they get through the spring program and get to training camp. Five players look like near locks assuming they remain healthy — Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel, Anthony Miller, Kevin White and Bennie Fowler. Of those five, White was the only one with the organization last season, backing up what general manager Ryan Pace said at the scouting combine, when he declared the position could be overhauled quickly. My hunch is the Bears will keep six wide receivers and in the mix for No. 6 will probably be Josh Bellamy, for his value on special teams, and seventh-round pick Javon Wims. DeMarcus Ayers, Marlon Brown and Tanner Gentry are also on the roster.

The Bears drafted 7 players in the 2018 NFL draft.

If James Daniels is a center, why cross train him at guard instead of putting Cody Whitehair at guard? — @firehawk1313

That’s a fair question and one that a number of folks inquired about this week. The first thought that comes to mind is the Bears have a young quarterback and they want him to develop a comfort level with his center. Mitch Trubisky played with Whitehair last season and they’ve been working together already this offseason. It’s important for the center and quarterback to have experience with one another. The second thought is I have to believe offensive line coach Harry Hiestand either proposed this idea or endorsed it. The Bears believe they have hired one of the finest offensive line coaches in the game at any level, and if you have an expert on staff, you’re going to lean on him for direction, right? Some have suggested Whitehair is more natural at guard and while he certainly was coming out of Kansas State, he has played more center in the NFL than he has guard. I think it’s fair to say Whitehair was more consistent during his rookie season than he was last year, although that is possibly a product the team moving him around a decent amount. I don’t believe the Bears would have drafted Daniels 39th overall and then proposed this scenario if they didn’t believe he could develop into an elite guard. The announced plan right now is for Daniels to compete with veteran Eric Kush at left guard. Let’s see how that plays out. If Daniels is the player the Bears imagine, he should ascend quickly.

Can someone please explain the fourth-round draft choice to me? There were so many logical choices there (Josh Sweat?) and they take an ILB? Hello? —@zhiwa57

I’ll admit wondering something similar when the Bears announced Western Kentucky’s Joel Iyiegbuniwe was the fourth-round pick. I’m not going to pretend like I watched a lot (any) Hilltoppers football last fall, so I called around to get some opinions from folks I respect.

“He’s a good player,” a national scout for another team said. “Smart, tough, can run. He’s a lot better than what they had (in reserve) there and it’s not a reach to say this kid will be starting for them down the line. He’s way better than Christian Jones and they took him right about where I figured he should go. Good football player.”

The simple answer has to be that Iyiegbuniwe had a higher grade than potential edge rushing options, including Sweat, who went at the end of Round 4 to the Eagles. If you’re going to put in the extraordinary amount of work that goes into creating grades and then stacking a draft board, what good is it if you don’t follow it? Remember that Jones was a pretty valuable piece for the Bears in that he could handle a few different roles and he was a core special teams player. I don’t see Iyiegbuniwe being able to line up at outside linebacker like Jones did, but it’s not like Jones was super effective there. I think the Bears potentially have a more instinctive reserve now at inside linebacker and a player who ought to shine on special teams immediately. Starter Danny Trevathan has had some durability issues and is under contract through 2019. After this season, the Bears will have to make a call on whether or not they want to pay him $6.4 million in 2019 when he will be 29. If Iyiegbuniwe develops as a rookie, perhaps his presence could factor in that decision.

The Bears haven’t replaced the veteran O’Donnell, but they’re certainly preparing to at least have him compete for the role this season. It’s important to follow the money, and the Bears signed him to a one-year, $1.5 million contract. The only guarantee in the deal is a $500,000 signing bonus, so it’s not like he’s tethered to the roster for the season. The Bears brought in Pitt punter Ryan Winslow for a pre-draft visit, and when you consider teams get only 30 of those, that signaled they were serious about at least exploring other options. Winslow received a $12,500 signing bonus as an undrafted free agent, so the deck is obviously stacked a little in O’Donnell’s favor, but I’d expect a legitimate competition under new special teams coordinator Chris Tabor. Remember, the Bears nearly replaced O’Donnell when they attempted to sign Britton Colquitt before the start of the 2016 season. Winslow will get the first shot to compete against O’Donnell and we’ll see if the Bears turn to other options. It’s not like O’Donnell is out the door. The best man will win the job.

Do you think the Bears sign a free-agent defensive back that's still out there? Especially since they didn't draft any DBs. — @bennylava913

Generally you see teams make a small handful of roster moves between the end of the draft and the start of training camp, and that could be one position that is addressed, but it looks like the team went pretty heavy with defensive backs with undrafted free agents. I don’t think there is a pressing depth need there right now just because there isn’t a ton of name recognition when it comes to guys at the bottom of the depth chart. A lot of times, in fact most of the time, veterans signed in May and June end up being washed out by late August/early September.

Photos of Roquan Smith, who the Bears selected with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft.

Understanding that Roquan Smith supplants Nick Kwiatkoski, is it really possible that they move Kwiatkoski to OLB? Don't they still need depth at ILB? — theeemarteen77

I would be a little surprised if the Bears were to transition Kwiatkoski to outside linebacker. He’s listed at 6-foot-2, 242 pounds, and not only is he a little light for that transition, I think he lacks the ideal length you desire at that spot. You can’t rule it out, but I would agree that they are going to desire some depth on the inside and that seems like something Kwiatkoski and Joel Iyiegbuniwe can provided this season. Yes, that means John Timu and Jonathan Anderson are probably in a tough spot when it comes to competing for roster spots.

What do the Bears do with Hroniss Grasu now that they drafted a center and have Cody Whitehair starting at center? — @r4one

Grasu will be in the mix for a backup job. It could be a bit of an uphill climb with the presence of veterans Eric Kush, Bradley Sowell, Earl Watford and last year’s fifth-round pick, Jordan Morgan, among others.

Ryan Pace seemed to make much more traditional picks this year. Is this Matt Nagy's influence or Pace realizing he only has a few more drafts to get this right before losing his job and taking Division II tight ends might not be the safest bet? — @jackmarchetti

I think the Bears took the best available player at No. 8 in Roquan Smith and I don’t know if that’s really the presence of a new head coach or just a smart move by the Bears. They didn’t look to small schools for players in the draft before getting Delaware defensive tackle Bilal Nichols in the fifth round. I wouldn’t write Shaheen off yet either after a rookie season that didn’t have a ton of production. He can still fit into what they’re doing and play a real role in the offense. I wouldn’t say Pace’s job status factored into decisions either. The Bears backed him in January with a two-year contract extension that carries through 2021. And to be fair, what GM isn’t a few bad drafts away from being in big trouble?

I’m sure you’re going to get this question a lot, but with the much-publicized lack of depth at edge rusher, what chances do you think that we see one or both of Willie Young and Lamarr Houston back with the Bears for training camp? — @rocketfoz

You are right that a few people were wondering about that this week, and Young and Houston both remain available. I guess you can’t rule out a return by one of them, but I would be really surprised if both were back in a Bears uniform. Aaron Lynch suffered what coach Matt Nagy said was an ankle injury in the voluntary minicamp last month. Provided he’s going to heal up just fine, I’d be a little surprised if they turned to Young or Houston anytime soon. They will want to see what they have in place first.

Which Day 3 pick do you think has the potential to be an impact starter either this year or within three years? — @concinvingppl

It’s a little rare that a Day 3 pick — Rounds 4 through 7 — becomes an “impact” starter as a rookie. I can’t project one of their Saturday selections being an impact starter in Year 1. Joel Iyiegbuniwe could project as a starter down the line and outside linebacker Kylie Fitts tested really well at the scouting combine. If he can remain healthy, he should have a chance to compete for time in the rotation. We’ll have to see how he performs if and when that happens. Day 3 picks are largely based on traits and skill sets that could be matches. It’s going to take time to see how these players turn out.

He’s worth keeping an eye on. A wrist injury forced him to miss half the season last year and it seems likely the Broncos decline the fifth-year option in his contract. That doesn’t mean they’re going to cut him or seek to trade him immediately.

Photos of Anthony Miller, who the Bears selected with the No. 51 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft.

I have seen some criticism on Ryan Pace trading next year's second-round pick to move up for Anthony Miller. But really can't he just trade up next year again using his 2020 2nd round pick? (And, eventually, getting an additional pick by trading down sometime in the future?). — Brian C., Parts Unknown

Sure, Pace could continue to put together trades to move into Round 2, but keep in mind the cost of a 2019 second-round pick will be a 2020 second-round pick plus more. Picks in the current years always hold more value, substantially more value than picks further down the line. Eventually, Pace will have to sit out the round or do as you suggested and look to trade down in Round 1 in order to recoup some draft capital in later rounds. Right now, I’d plan as if they Bears will be sitting out the second round in 2019 and that will be just fine if Miller is the productive wide receiver the Bears envision.

Will the addition of Roquan Smith as a cover linebacker help Leonard Floyd in freeing him up to rush the passer more? — Aerahan S., Oak Park

That’s a good question. According to Pro Football Focus, Floyd was used in coverage for 68 of 582 snaps last season (11.7 percent), so we’re not talking about an overwhelming number of plays in coverage when he could have been rushing the passer. Smith is an interesting piece for defensive coordinator Vic Fangio because he has good speed and showed some proficiency as a blitzer at Georgia for former Bears defensive coordinator Mel Tucker. Having more athletic players on the field will give Fangio more options and chances to be creative.

Joel Iyiegbuniwe in the fourth round was the only real head-scratching selection for Ryan Pace. Why draft another ILB at that point, one that would probably have still been available in Round 6? Why not Josh Sweat at that pick? — @mike__chicago

As I explained above, it’s obvious the Bears had a solid grade on Iyiegbuniwe and they probably view the loss of Christian Jones in free agency to the Lions as a greater departure than a lot of folks. Iyiegbuniwe has characteristics that could lead to him being a starter one day. Let’s see how he pans out before we reach the conclusion this was a fourth-round pick that went awry.

Ryan Pace and Co. seemed to skip building any depth in the secondary this offseason. While we all agree the Bears nickel defense is stacked in the secondary, there's not much competent depth behind them. — @gumm006

I don’t know that you can say the Bears skipped building depth when they ponied up in a big way to re-sign starters Kyle Fuller and Prince Amukamara at cornerback. They also brought back special teams ace Sherrick McManis and recall they signed CFL standout Jonathon Mincy, who we did not see on the field during the voluntary minicamp last month. They’ve got some depth at cornerback and you have to figure that at least one of the trio of safeties selected in the 2016 draft — Deon Bush, Deiondre’ Hall and DeAndre Houston-Carson — is ready to step forward into a bigger role. There’s no such thing as having too many good cornerbacks, but I don’t think the Bears are critically short here by any stretch.

With all the new additions, I think the only thing that could keep this team from .500 is injuries. People, including media, in the past have somehow blamed the Bears’ rash of injuries on management. Is that really a fair criticism? — @stewart_errol

I don’t know that there has been overwhelming criticism of injuries placed on management. Sure, injuries really hit the Bears hard the last three seasons and the team reacted by hiring a new head athletic trainer and a new strength and conditioning coach. You have to factor durability when constructing a roster. The Bears were hit with some tough luck and it lasted longer than anyone would have liked. The team ultimately is to blame if it’s stuck in a rut with too many players landing on injured reserve or stuck in the training room. The Bears are hopeful some changes to the program will make them more durable in 2018.

Do you see the Bears completing contract extensions for Eddie Goldman and Adrian Amos before opening day? Is this draft without the annual safety pick a belief in the Eddie Jackson-Adrian Amos duo or just how the board fell? — @jtbarczak

You would expect the Bears to at least broach the topic of an extension with Goldman and his representatives at some point this summer. I don’t know if the team will take that approach with Amos. The Bears might want to see another season of starting production from him before deciding how he might fit in long-term plans. It’s probably a reflection of how the board fell when it comes to no safety being drafted this year. It was the first time since 2013 the Bears have not drafted a safety and only the second time since 2004, but I’d expect a healthy amount of undrafted free agents at that position competing in rookie minicamp next week.

Am I the only one concerned with the depth at cornerback? I thought for sure the front office would draft one of the young talented defensive backs in the first three rounds. It's not a matter of if Prince Amukamara gets injured but when. Especially in a division with Rodgers/Stafford/Cousins. — @raulybabe

Amukamara played in 14 games after missing the first two weeks last year with a sprained ankle. You’re not the only one wondering about depth at cornerback, but I would point out had the Bears used one of their top three picks on a cornerback, there would have been similar questions this week wondering why the Bears didn’t draft an inside linebacker, an interior offensive lineman or a wide receiver in the first three rounds. There simply were not enough picks in the first two days of the draft to cover all of the spots that folks would have had questions about.

Noticed the Bears took a flier on UDFA Nick Wilson of Arizona. 1,000-yard rusher as a freshman, but injuries limited his career. Would you say he or Ryan Nall have a legit chance to beat out Benny Cunningham as the third running back? — @tbo41fan

Never say never, but I think the Bears hold Cunningham in relatively high regard. He was good for them on third down last season and proficient as a pass blocker. He was also solid on special teams. Let’s see how it plays out, but Cunningham is a low-cost option and the kind of player that makes coaches feel comfortable.

What is the upcoming schedule now? How much time do coaches really have with the players, I'm talking about actual field time, not classroom with the current CBA? — @grizzlykurt

The Bears will hold rookie minicamp at Halas Hall from May 11-13. That will lead into the beginning of OTAs the following week. The offseason program will be wrapped up with mandatory minicamp from June 5-7. The Bears report to training camp on July 19 and will hit the practice field the next day, about a week ahead of 30 other teams because of the date in the Hall of Fame Game against the Ravens. In other words, football will be here soon.

You're fine going into a season where the Bears are hoping to be competitive or even good with a kicker who has been on three teams in four years and was not good in bad-weather Cleveland? No competition? — @austing183

The Bears could bring in a camp leg to compete with Cody Parkey if they wanted, but they guaranteed him $9 million in the four-year, $15 million contract he was signed to, indicating that he’s going to be their kicker in 2018 and likely 2019, at the minimum. His annual average of $3.75 million ranks eighth, putting him in the top quarter of the league. Parkey was 20 for 25 on field goals playing for the Browns in 2016 for current Bears special teams coordinator. That’s 80 percent and means he was one missed kick away from being at 84 percent. As a rookie in 2014, he made 32 of 36 field goals playing for the Eagles and I wouldn’t classify that as a warm-weather spot to kick in. He’s the guy for at least two seasons and possibly beyond.

Provide some clarity. Anthony Miller is a slot guy, but so is Taylor Gabriel. Who is the starter opposite Allen Robinson? Don’t say Kevin White. — @hollywood1114

Reality is we’re in the first week of May and there’s no such thing as a starting depth chart at this point. That’s what the remainder of the offseason, training camp and preseason are for. I would focus less on who starts and more on who nets the most playing time. And if Miller is the receiver the Bears believe he is, he should certainly contribute. I would expect Matt Nagy’s system to involve a lot of different combinations that will provide opportunities for many skill-position players, far more than the team has used with regularity in the recent past. Gabriel got pretty good money in his contract, so they must have significant plans for him, but they didn’t draft Miller thinking about 2019 and beyond. They want to see what he can do this season. White will be in the mix, but they’ve done a nice job of overhauling this position with players who bring a variety of skill sets to the huddle.